Banana breakthrough for Samoa

Samoa PM wants health merger to be implemented urgently

APIA,19 OCTOBER 2018 (SAMOA OBSERVER) – Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi has called for a drawn out merger of the National Health Services and the Ministry of Health to be implemented urgently. Tuilaepa has told Samoa FM radio his Cabinet has decided to go with recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry set up to...

Temaru set to be cleared in Tahiti election probe

PAPE’ETE,19 OCTOBER 2018 (RNZ PACIFIC) – French Polynesia’s pro-independence opposition Tavini Huiraatira party says its leader Oscar Temaru won’t lose office over alleged breaches of the electoral law. In August, the French national commission vetting campaign contributions and expenses rejected Temaru’s return and referred his case to the top administrative court. The Tavini now says...

ADF supports APEC security in Port Moresby

CANBERRA, 19 OCTOBER 2018 (AUSTRALIA DEFENCE MAGAZINE) – The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is supporting hosting of APEC 2018 in the Papua New Guinean (PNG) capital Port Moresby. Australia is understood to be subsidising up to a third of the cost for hosting the event. The ADF is providing specialised capabilities to enhance local security...

New Caledonia separatists ‘confident’ as referendum nears

NOUMEA, 19 OCTOBER 2018 (RNZ PACIFIC) – New Caledonia’s pro-independence politicians say they are confident just two weeks out from the referendum on full sovereignty. Speaking at a panel discussion in Noumea, they said independence won’t be a jump into the void as the territory has been preparing for independence from France for 30 years....

Avoid One Coin cryptocurrency, says Samoa PM

APIA, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (SAMOA OBSERVER) – Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi has again cautioned the public against investing in the One Coin cryptocurrency. “We have had people from overseas who came here to promote this scheme and we had them visit the Central Bank of Samoa (CBS) and the end result was that...

Vanuatu Department of Correctional Services under review

PORT VILA, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (VANUATU DAILY POST) – Vanuatu’s Department of Correctional Services is undergoing a major review. “An amendment to the Correctional Services Act, which will ensure rapists and murderers are locked up for the rest of their lives if they reoffend when they are released on parole will be taken to Parliament...

Malietoa and Malie chiefs plead not guilty to contempt

APIA, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (SAMOA OBSERVER) – Malietoa Fa’amausili Moli and 15 other chiefs from Malie have pleaded not guilty to the charge of contempt of court. The others include Maualaivao Pepe; Maualaivao Pat Ah Him; Auimatagi Sa’oloto; Auimatagi Fa’afetati; Auimatagi Afi Fa’amausili; Fa’amausili Siona; Fa’amausili Chris; Muagututi’a Peter; Muagututi’a Fa’alafi; Tulasunu’i Umutaua; Tulasunu’i Ulaese;...

Attempted PNG media censor irks Pruaitch

PORT MORESBY, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (POST COURIER) – Papua New Guinea Opposition Leader Patrick Pruaitch has expressed dismay over attempts to block the live talkback show over the Maserati luxury car deal. Pruaitch said he is dismayed to learn that the O’Neill government has effectively censored the PNG media and threatened one of the pillars...

Cook Islands could become GCF implementing agency

RAROTONGA, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (RADIO COOK ISLANDS) – The Cook Islands could be on its way to become an implementing agency for the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Deputy Prime Minister Mark Brown has just returned from a meeting with the GCF in Korea. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Management could get the thumbs up...

PNG to deploy fighter jets and foreign military as it plans major security operation for APEC

PORT MORESBY (AFP) – Papua New Guinea will deploy foreign fighter jets and special forces to protect world leaders attending a major Asia-Pacific forum next month in the crime-plagued capital Port Moresby, officials have said. The government is planning a massive security operation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit from November 17, which will...

Wallis and Futuna public sector strike widens

MATAU’TU, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (RNZ PACIFIC) – Reports from Wallis and Futuna say the territorial guards have gone on strike after deferring their action by two days. Local television reported that they want to be integrated into the French public service. Their action comes as senior public sector staff are in their fifth week of...

Air Niugini to operate first flight to China

PORT MORESBY, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (POST COURIER) – National airline, Air Niugini, will operate its first direct commercial flight between Port Moresby and Shanghai, China on Tuesday, Oct 23, next week. The Port Moresby/Shanghai flight will operate twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays. Flights depart Port Moresby at 7:30pm and arrive in Shanghai at 1am,...

NZ addresses UN on Tokelau self-governance

NEW YORK, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (RNZ PACIFIC) – New Zealand has told a United Nations committee on decolonisation that it’s committed to helping Tokelau become self-governing. At a meeting last week, New Zealand’s representative to the UN, Craig Hawke, said the relationship with Tokelau had been scaled up this year. Over the next four years,...

MSG raises concerns about New Caledonia voter registration

NEW YORK, 18 OCTOBER (RNZ PACIFIC) – A Papua New Guinea diplomat at the UN has expressed concern that not all Kanaks have been enrolled for New Caledonia’s referendum on independence from France. Max Rai was speaking at the UN decolonisation committee meeting in New York on behalf of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Rai told...

Tanangada sworn in as new Minister for Women, Youth, Children Affairs

HONIARA,18 OCTOBER 2018 (SIG) – Solomon Islands member of Parliament for Gizo/Kolombangara Constituency Lanelle Olandrea Tanangada has been sworn in as the new Minister for Women, Youth and Children Affairs. Tanangada was sworn in at the Government House by the Governor General Sir Frank Kabui. The swearing in ceremony Wednesday was witnessed by the Prime...

‘For the Pacific it’s always about cash’: Environment Minister in diplomatic incident over climate change

CANBERRA, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (SMH) – Australian Environment Minister Melissa Price has been accused of offending a key Pacific leader by declaring the region was “always” seeking cash from Australia, in a disputed remark that has triggered a new storm over government policy on climate change. Price is said to have told former Kiribati president...

Australia vs Tonga Test sold out

FOX SPORTS – AUSTRALIA’S historic first rugby league Test against Tonga will attract a sellout crowd, with the final tickets for the match being sold on Wednesday morning. After less than 13,000 fans attended New Zealand’s defeat of the Kangaroos last weekend, the NRL has confirmed the same 30,000-seat stadium is already booked out. “The...

Tonga Test value outweighs financial cost for Kangaroos after pay cut

AUCKLAND, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (SMH) – Kangaroos players have placed more value in the Test against Tonga than the $17,000 pay cut they’ve taken to ensure Saturday’s historic match proceeds. One of Australia’s stars even declared he would have happily played for free. After pocketing the standard $20,000 for last Saturday’s match against New Zealand...

Why APEC cars bought

PORT MORESBY, 17 OCTOBER 2018 (THE NATIONAL) – The Papua New Guinea Government has reiterated that cars acquired for use during Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings next month are similar to the ones other host nations had acquired for the regional event. Apec Minister Justin Tkatchenko, in response to public comments on the Government’s purchase...

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